Introduction:

Sites polluted by mining activity represent a risk to human health.

Objective:

To determine the concentration of toxic minerals (Hg, Pb, Cd and As) in two environmental liabilities (ELs) in Noria de Ángeles, Zacatecas.

Materials and methods:

Soil samples from two ELs and a reference site were taken based on NMX-AA-132-SCFI-2006; in addition, a spring and waterbodies adjacent to or on the ELs were sampled, in accordance with NOM-230-SSA1-2002. Toxic elements in soil and water were analyzed in accordance with NOM-147-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2004 and NOM-127-SSA1-1994, respectively. The concentrations of elements in the soil were subjected to an analysis of variance and Tukey’s range test (P < 0.05).

Results and discussion:

The Hg concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in the ELs than in the reference site, but it did not exceed the maximum permissible limits (MPL) established by the standards. The Cd and As in the soil of the ELs and reference site exceeded the MPL, and the Pb only in the ELs. It is deduced that the As has a mainly geological origin, since its content in the reference site was higher than the recent EL. In the waterbodies, the Pb, Hg, Cd and As concentrations were much higher than the MPL.

Conclusion:

The Pb, Cd and As in the ELs, and the Pb, Cd, Hg and As in the waterbodies pose a risk to the health of the residents of Noria de Ángeles, Zacatecas.

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